Graduate Coordinator

How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this job. 

Please upload your cover letter/resume in a .pdf format in order to assure the document formatting is maintained.

Job Summary

The Graduate Program Coordinator serves as a member of our team and is responsible for providing a broad range of assistance to our PhD students and faculty at the Department of Communication and Media and the Department of Film, Television and Media. The Graduate Program Coordinator acts as a pivotal member of the Student Services team for both departments.  An enthusiastic, welcoming, and positive personality is critical.  We are an intellectual community dedicated to excellence through research and teaching; learn more about the departments at https://lsa.umich.edu/comm, https://lsa.umich.edu/ftvm.

Mission Statement

The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.

Responsibilities*

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Graduate Program Administration:  The Graduate Coordinator serves as the first point of contact for graduate student inquiries, including responding to general program or prospective student inquiries. The Graduate Coordinator monitors students' progress and academic milestones and students' progress toward degree requirements. Advises prospective and current students regarding graduate program requirements and Rackham, LSA, and departmental policies and procedures. The Coordinator serves as a student advocate and is involved in all major initiatives involving the graduate program. The Coordinator acts as the primary liaison for the department with Rackham and the College of LSA for all graduate matters.

Graduate Funding:  Works with the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies and the Student Services Manager on graduate student financial decisions and strategic long range financial planning. The Graduate Coordinator is responsible for managing the budgeting, accounting and financial transactions related to the graduate programs; maintains the current-year graduate funding budgets, as well as future year projections. The Coordinator tracks student funding packages (across all sources), advises on funding options, and administers financial aid for the departments. They work with the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies and the Student Services Manager to determine GSI assignments; processes GSI appointments and offer letters; answers fellowship and GSI employment questions; ensures compliance with the GEO contract and the LSA ten-term rule; and works with faculty to find graders for their classes, including posting available positions.

Admissions:  The Graduate Coordinator has primary responsibility for supporting the work of the Graduate Admissions Committee, and partners with them to plan the admissions process and the recruitment weekend.   The Coordinator provides recommendations to the Admissions Committee regarding target incoming cohort size and identifying funding for the incoming students. The Graduate Coordinator prepares the admissions letters, and tracks acceptances.  In collaboration with the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies, the Coordinator assigns first year mentors.

Award Nominations: The Graduate Coordinator coordinates the funding nominations for incoming and continuing students (Rackham RMF, PSC training grants, FLAS awards).  In addition, the Graduate Coordinator manages the department's nominations for Rackham Pre-doc awards, outstanding GSI awards, Sweetland fellowships, etc.

Event Planning and Management: Responsible for all aspects of the planning and executing the logistics of departmental graduate program events.  This includes the planning of an annual two-day recruitment weekend for admitted graduate students; design and delivery of new doctoral student orientation and welcome activities; ensuring successful transition and matriculation for new graduate students; other workshops or community building events for graduate students.

The Graduate Coordinator will participate in annual and monthly trainings/meetings to stay current on University and College policies and best practices such as the Rackham Graduate Coordinators Meetings and LGrad (LSA Graduate Program Coordinators).

The Graduate Coordinator will report directly to the Student Services Manager.
 

Required Qualifications*

An Associate Degree is required or equivalent work experience, with at least four years of progressive work experience: preferably in an academic setting.

The successful candidate will have the ability to work effectively and sensitively with a diverse group of students, faculty and staff and to handle sensitive and confidential materials and situations. We require a high level of proficiency with information technology applications including spreadsheets, word processing, and web management. We require a demonstrated high level of critical thinking, problem solving, and decision-making. The successful candidate must be a self-starter; have excellent organizational skills; be able to set priorities and handle multiple assignments and deadlines; learn quickly and stay calm in the face of concurrent tasks; and display excellent judgment while operating in a flexible and highly professional manner.

The departments of Communication and Media and Film, Television and Media depend on our staff to work successfully in a team environment as well as work independently with minimal supervision. A high degree of attention to detail and accuracy is a must. We are looking for someone who shows initiative; the desire to identify opportunities for changes to processes, procedures and duties; and a willingness to assume additional responsibilities. Requirements for this position will require the successful candidate to plan and implement programs and to make presentations; so comfort and experience with public speaking is necessary.  Lastly, the successful candidate will be required to occasionally flex their hours in order to attend evening and weekend events.

High level of MS Word proficiency with working knowledge of Excel.

Desired Qualifications*

A Bachelor's Degree is strongly desired, with graduate education experience a plus.  Experience with any of the University's student services modules of M-Pathways. Experience working with collaborative file sharing.  Experience with AEM website management.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Additional Information

The target starting salary for this position is $47,000 to $58,500 full-time rate. 

The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitments to serve the diverse people of Michigan, fulfill the College's Guiding Principles, and sustain the excellence of LSA.  

To learn more about LSA's Guiding Principles visit http://lsa.umich.edu/lsa/faculty-staff/human-resources/lsa-staff-guiding-principles.html

This position is eligible for two remote days after the probation period.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks.  Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.